California lawmaker introduces bill to help prevent, de-escalate police chases with new technology
A California lawmaker introduced a bill Wednesday aimed at helping police respond to high-speed chases.
The timing was ironic, with two separate police chases ending Wednesday in crashes and suspicious deaths throughout SoCal.
The Next Gen Road Safety Act introduced by Congresswoman Laura Friedman would expand the COPS grant program so law enforcement can access federal funds to purchase modern tools and technology to prevent and defuse high-speed chases.
These tools include vehicle neutralization systems that can safely stop a fleeing car, police bumper systems to reduce the risk of collision, and drones to track pursuing drivers.
“Drones are definitely one of the technologies we’re looking to deploy,” Burbank Police Chief Rafael Quintero said at a news conference announcing the bill. “Especially when you don’t have aerial assets up there and the drones are able to be a little more nimble and flexible in getting into certain areas, it’s a. Secondly, I’m sure all the media here have seen the grappler. We’ve all seen, maybe a TikTok video or an Instagram associated with its effectiveness. It’s something that we’re really studying and considering.”
The grappling hook is the tool that was used during Wednesday’s chase that ended in a major crash in Jurupa Valley, although the Riverside Sheriff’s Department noted its deployment was unsuccessful.
Congressman Friedman claims that more than 94% of police chases end without any secure termination technology deployed.
SEE ALSO: Suspect commits suicide after chase ends with grappler in violent Jurupa Valley crash, deputies say
A suspect is dead after a chase ended dramatically in Jurupa Valley when officers attempted to deploy a grappling hook moments before a major crash.
The suspect in the Jurupa Valley chase lost control and crashed into a concrete wall after the grappling hook failed. After a lengthy standoff with deputies, the sheriff’s department said he committed suicide.
Earlier Wednesday, a dangerous police chase ended in an exchange of gunfire, leaving one suspect dead and another hospitalized in East Los Angeles.
READ MORE: Police Shoot, Kill Suspect After Brief Chase Ends In Crash On 5 Freeway Off-Ramp In East Los Angeles
A dangerous police chase ended in an exchange of gunfire Wednesday morning, leaving one suspect dead and another hospitalized.
The pursuit began when officers spotted a vehicle that had been reported stolen near Towne Avenue and 7th Street in downtown Los Angeles. Officers attempted to stop the vehicle, and that’s when the pursuit began.
The deadly police shooting occurred shortly afterward, when the driver made a U-turn on a 5 Freeway exit ramp and crashed into one of the pursuing patrol vehicles, according to the LAPD. The driver then allegedly got out of the car and fired shots, and the police returned fire.
The driver was pronounced dead at the scene. The passenger, who survived, was loaded into an ambulance and transported to a nearby hospital for evaluation.
